Iraq - Should we advocate for a UN peace force in this civil war?

[pinto]

I think so.

And I think we should advocate for an Arab League presence in the decision making.

Withdrawal from Iraq moves closer to the forefront of American public opinion. The UN option was mentioned a while back...I'd like to see it revisited.

That seems a plausible answer to the "how can we leave now?" dilemma.

Unilateralism doesn't work, thank you George, and Anglo centric "solutions" have never worked in the Middle East.

[KerryOn]

1. Much of the UN is still pissed at Bush...

... for invading Iraq in the first place. As long as we are there why should they help clean up the mess?

As long as we are in Iraq the UN will stay out. The sooner we leave Iraq, the sooner the UN will be more apt to take part. And if they do they should send Bush he bill.

[pinto]

2. I know. I'm thinking about revisiting the option w/House/Congress.

Why not side step the unilateralists as much as we can? Don't know if it would make an iota of difference at this point, but another choice beyond "stay the course" and "we made the mess we have to stay" would be good to hear.

[Yupster]

11. The UN isn't going to come into Iraq

They won't even set up a mission there.

Once there is a peace for a few months, they'll maybe come in to watch the peace, but thinking they're going to come in and save our bacon is just fantasy.

And another thing, the Arab League has no reason to support democracy in Iraq. That is not in their interests.

Brainstorming is fine, but solutions have to have some hold onto reality.

I guess you could also say you have a solution to solve the US government debt. Solution. Other countries should give us $ 5 trillion dollars. There. Problem solved.

[enigma000]

3. Who do you have in mind?

The Germans? French? Indians?

Think they want their troops to die fighting America's war, after the US leaves?

As for Arabs, I can't see the Iraqi Shia being all that thrilled with "Peacekeepers" coming from the same countries as the foreign jihadists. The Shia would be concerned the Arabs would manouver to put the Sunni Arabs back in charge.

[pinto]

5. Neutral blue helmets. An international presence. What's another option?

[enigma000]

10. Which countries' soldiers? n/t

[me b zola]

4. I think so too.

It would be a winning platform for a Dem to run on, and we could bring our troops home. Enough is enough.

[pinto]

7. You've got that right, imho. It's over.

[newswolf56]

6. Despite the Shia/Sunni complication, I think a U.N. police force...

is the only way we can extricate ourselves from the mess. Some friends and I were discussing this just last week.

But even then Bush will have succeeded in his clandestine purpose: as with allowing the escape of Osama bin Laden, the furthering of theocracy in the Middle East -- whether Christian or Muslim, "god's plan" for imposing the global dictatorship required to guarantee the safety of capitalists and capitalism.

[pinto]

9. Yeah, all the better to remove Iraq from a "Bush agenda".

[CHIMO]

8. There bHas To Be

A peace to keep. The UN doesn't create the peace.

Peacekeeping is a way to help countries torn by conflict create conditions for sustainable peace. UN peacekeepers—soldiers and military officers, civilian police officers and civilian personnel from many countries—monitor and observe peace processes that emerge in post-conflict situations and assist ex-combatants to implement the peace agreements they have signed. Such assistance comes in many forms, including confidence-building measures, power-sharing arrangements, electoral support, strengthening the rule of law, and economic and social development.

The Charter of the United Nations gives the UN Security Council the power and responsibility to take collective action to maintain international peace and security. For this reason, the international community usually looks to the Security Council to authorize peacekeeping operations. Most of these operations are established and implemented by the United Nations itself with troops serving under UN operational command. In other cases, where direct UN involvement is not considered appropriate or feasible, the Council authorizes regional organizations such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Economic Community of West African States or coalitions of willing countries to implement certain peacekeeping or peace enforcement functions

http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/faq/q1.htm

[LynnTheDem]

12. I say we advocate for whatever the majority of IRAQIS want.

Just, you know, to be really unique.

[pinto]

13. good answer.

:thumbsup: